Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has confirmed the life assurance scheme is being extended to cover college students studying HNC Care and Administrative Practice and HNC Healthcare Practice, while undertaking placements in health and social care settings. This will ensure that clinical placements can progress as planned.

The NHS Scotland and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020 was introduced to ensure that no qualified person was discouraged or prevented from returning to service in NHS Scotland as a result of the pandemic, and ensure that all staff have peace of mind at this time. The scheme was subsequently extended to cover university students on health programmes who undertake clinical placements as part of their course.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that colleges play in widening access for students to higher education and to the health professions.

As stated in the revised ‘COVID-19: visiting guidance for hospitals in Scotland’ a birth partner supporting a woman during hospital visits is ‘essential’. This includes a birth partner accompanying a women during active labour and birth.

In July we published our Maternity and Neonatal visiting guidance and this is currently being reviewed in light of the recently announced ‘ COVID-19 local protection levels’ within the Strategic Framework, however birth partners will remain essential in all levels.

As outlined in my statement to Parliament on 7 October, due to the continuing disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we can no longer risk the running of a full Exam Diet in 2021.

In line with the recommendations made to me by Professor Mark Priestley in his independent review of the National Qualifications experience in 2020, I have asked SQA to take an alternative approach to National 5 accreditation in 2021 rather than the usual exams.

In taking this decision on National 5 exams, it means that we can build an exam diet for Highers and Advanced Highers that is as safe as it possibly can be. These exams will begin on 10 May, later than normal to give S5 and S6 pupils back approximately two weeks of the learning time they lost earlier this year. This additional time, in conjunction with the course assessment modifications that SQA have made following its consultation, give the greatest chances of these exams being implemented fairly.

The decision to go ahead with the 2021 Exam Diet for Highers and Advanced Highers is being kept under continual review. It remains vitally important that we continue to take due regard of the latest public health advice to safeguard the health of all learners, whilst ensuring that their hard work is recognised in the awarding of qualifications. Given the potential for further disruption, contingency plans for these courses are being developed, and a final decision will be made no later than mid-February.

The COVID-19 Strategic Framework sets out that while there are no mandatory travel restrictions from and into Level 3 areas, we are asking people to limit travel where possible and only leave the local authority in which they live for essential journeys. The exceptions include travel to school, college or university where teaching is not provided remotely, and the intention is that this includes for purposes of sitting exams or assessments.

Dance is usually assessed through visiting assessment but this would not be appropriate during the pandemic for public health reasons. SQA are conducting further investigations, including some engagement with centres offering these qualifications and this will inform a final decision.

The Scottish Government’s strategy for the management of wild deer is described in Scotland’s Wild Deer: a national approach (WDNA), which can be found at : https://www.nature.scot/scotlands-wild-deer-national-approach-2015-2020-priorities . The WDNA is updated every 5 years, with delivery by both land managers and public bodies directed through an Annual Action Plan. The current priority actions are focused on collaboration between land owners and effective deer management planning, to implement culls that deliver on a range of public interests.

Deer management on Scotland’s national forests and land is undertaken by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), who, do so through their Deer Management Strategy which involves collaborating with other deer managers, an integrated land use approach and following best practice in relation to deer welfare.

The Scottish Government is currently considering recommendations made by the independent Deer Working Group Report to improve Scotland's approach to sustainable deer management and will publish a response in due course.

There appears to be little evidence of adverse impact from true “wild camping” as defined by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, in contrast to the widely-reported issues during the phased withdrawal from lockdown over the summer. We understand this has been largely associated with what might be termed roadside camping (such as tents pitched close to a parked vehicle away from established campsites) and “party” camping.

Most people follow the rules and behave responsibly but we are acutely aware of heightened impacts, particularly in rural areas and communities and in areas with high visitor concentrations. This has involved irresponsible and criminal activity from a small minority, including antisocial behaviour, littering, human waste, damage to property and the environment, fires and inconsiderate car parking.

As well as working closely with partner bodies over the summer to address these issues through improved coordination and stronger messaging, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism convened a meeting of the relevant public agencies (chaired by VisitScotland) on 14 September to look carefully at the range of problems experienced around problematic camping.

Enhanced enforcement, education, infrastructure and visitor management are central to this coordinated strategic approach and we are confident that it will play a significant role in delivering long term solutions ahead of next year’s tourist season.

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed.

This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate. We have used scientific evidence on transmission coupled with the social and economic benefits which Ministers have used to make decisions. There are a number of relevant factors that would have been considered:

• Duration of contact.
• Ability to maintain distancing.
• Challenge of cleaning surfaces, spaces between and around users.
• Aerosol transmission risk since such activities could give rise to heavier breathing, panting, shouting etc which would all increase the chance of transmission particularly as masks cannot be worn.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing to publish this information in due course.

Necessary repairs to holiday homes can proceed as required in level 3 local authority areas. Although there is no specific reference in the guidance for conducting maintenance in a holiday or second home, contractors are still able to enter for maintenance purposes. In level 4 however contractors can only carry out essential maintenance. In this level, a person should only travel to a holiday or second home where essential repairs or maintenance are required. The guidelines are clear that for safety, people should avoid all unnecessary travel in level 3 and 4 and exemptions should not be used as loopholes.

We recognise that self-employed workers in Scotland play a key role in the economy and that they must not be left behind in the response to this crisis. We appreciate that taxi and private hire cars provide a valuable service to both residents of and visitors to Scotland. We understand the economic impact that restrictions are having on businesses and the economic damage being felt by businesses required to close, as well as other sectors.

Taxi drivers are eligible for financial support through either the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme or the Job Retention Scheme. Notwithstanding the unnecessary uncertainty caused by delays in announcing this support, we welcome the UK Government’s decision to extend both the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and the Job Retention Scheme which now gives taxi drivers, amongst others, greater certainty that they will receive financial support that recognises the ongoing challenges they face.

We are also currently considering support for fixed costs pressures on taxi drivers and others distinct from the new Strategic Framework Business Fund. This is in addition to the Covid-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund through which we have made £5m of funding available to support installation of equipment that reduces the risk of coronavirus transmission on public, community and school transport, including taxi and private hire operators